Four Valuable Tips to Enhance the Bedtime Story Reading Experience

Creating precious bonding moments, promoting creativity and instilling important values that help in the evolution of confident and intelligent adults – it all starts with children’s bedtime stories. Here’s how you can enhance the bedtime story reading experience and get the most out of this important activity.

Encourage Child’s Involvement

While reading bedtime stories for toddlers or young children, encourage as much active involvement as possible. You can start by letting your child choose the book – this way your child is more likely to take an interest in the activity. You can encourage your child’s involvement by asking him/her to hold the book, turn the pages or read from the book - at his or her own pace, of course. These measures will make your child feel like an important part of the reading experience, look forward to the nightly routine and take an interest in reading.

Pick Books with Eye-Catching Illustrations

Choose books of children’s bedtime stories that have beautiful illustrations. Illustrations help children make the connection with words. In some story books, such as books about monsters, cute or funny illustrations and images take away the fear of the unknown. Illustrations also act as catalysts for triggering your child’s imagination and creativity. You can make the reading experience more interactive by asking your child to point out specific illustrations that help explain the storyline.

Make It Fun and Entertaining

To read bedtime stories for toddlers, you’ve got to unleash the inner child in you. Your child is more likely to show an interest if you sound excited and child-like. Don’t look at reading children’s bedtime stories as a boring nightly ritual – it can be a fun experience for you as well. There are no rules, so go ahead and let loose your creativity. Try putting on some hilarious voices or mimicking the voice of your child’s favorite TV character - your child is sure to be delighted by it.

Encourage Conversation about the Book

As entertaining as bedtime stories can be, they are also valuable learning tools. After reading from a children’s bedtime story book, spend a few minutes to encourage your child to talk about the book. This way you can get to know what your child has understood from the story. You can also add your own inputs – without sounding like a strict teacher or any other higher authority.

How many of these tips are you already practicing to make your child’s bedtime reading experience extra special?